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FiiO E9/Hd 650's - just received.....underwhelmed! Am I doing something wrong?

post #1 of 12
1/19/12 at 9:15am
Thread Starter 

My new Hd 650's are nicely burned in after 100+ hrs of play and received the FiiO E9 today. 

 

Plugged it into the iPhone and heard a difference, then plugged it directly into the headphone out of my Pioneer Kuro TV and whilst it made the around output louder, it didn't seem to do much for quality.

 

I've read that these headphones need an amp for you to get the best out of them, but either the amplification in the TV is already good, or the E9 just isn't that good.....which is it?

 

Also, the only way to connect into the E9 is the 3.5mm line in, as far as I can see.  I use the headphones for movies only really, so the only way I can fathom connecting the amp is either the headphone out on the TV, or line out RCA-3.5mm from the back of the Onkyo receiver.  Or I could use the headphone out and buy a 3.5mm converter.

 

Which is best?  

So far, I'm underwhelmed with both the 650's and the E9!  Feel as if I've wasted a lot of heard-earned cash!

 

Thanks for the advice,

 

im333

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post #2 of 12
1/19/12 at 9:22am

I'd say it's probably your TV just not being that good of a source - Amps won't work as DACs, and the E9 is just an amp IIRC. The iPhone has an okay DAC to begin with, depending on the model.
 

Your iPhone needs a LOD, if you're not using one, so you're not double amping. That'd improve quality there substantially.

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-L9-L-Shaped-Cable-iPhone/dp/B004QVNNI0/ref=pd_sim_e_3

 

I'm going to guess that the television is just a lackluster source. I'm probably wrong.

 

(Alternatively, the E9 might just be that underwhelming for you. It's a budget amp, after all)


Edited by dorino - 1/19/12 at 9:26am
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post #3 of 12
1/19/12 at 9:25am

As stated in the last post you should defiantly use a LOD.

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post #4 of 12
1/19/12 at 9:30am
Thread Starter 

Thanks,

 

The LOD would take care of music form the iPhone, but I really purchased the setup as I watch movies on Blu-Ray and that's what I'm most concerned about. 

 

The Kuro isn't bad in terms of amping, but I do have an Onkyo receiver at the ready; again, this would be amping the outputted sound however to the E9.  

 

I just wonder where exactly people utilise the E9 in their HT setup then, and how?

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post #5 of 12
1/19/12 at 9:51am

 The question has been raised before regarding the E9 SQ. I do believe as a budget amp, the E9 is doing just fine for what it is.

 

1. Quite a few people who use the headphone jack ( output) from their TVs, Laptops...what have you, while the signals from these  headphone output jacks have been converted from digital signal to analog signal by the internal DAC of such playback devices ( TVs, Laptops, DAPs...) and these signal have been amplified by such devices that connects to the output jacks. What you do is to amplify the signal that has been processed thru the internal DAC and the internal amplifiy by the E9. Garbagein, garbage out.

 

2. You will need a DAC that is better than the internal DAC in your TV, CDP, laptop whichever the case may be. Then use the E9 to amplify that processed signal. Again, not all DACs are the same. That's why we have Headfi and Headfonia reviews tom to research.

 

For TVs, I do not think you will need an expensive DAC. I have read from Headfonia, the Mike guy claimed he liked the Fiio D3 DAC better than the E7 when using with the E9. I am going to do just that to put his claim to attest.

 

Best wish.

 

 

 

 

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post #6 of 12
1/19/12 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 

So if I purchase the D3, how exactly would I connect this to my setup?

My Blu-Ray player clearly, the source in my system has both optical and co-axial out along with HDMI (I currently use the HDMI for when I want to use the TV speakers and co-axial is connected to the Onkyo for HT sound).  

I'm a little unsure what would be the best way to connect the D3 then?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ACDOAN View Post

 The question has been raised before regarding the E9 SQ. I do believe as a budget amp, the E9 is doing just fine for what it is.

 

1. Quite a few people who use the headphone jack ( output) from their TVs, Laptops...what have you, while the signals from these  headphone output jacks have been converted from digital signal to analog signal by the internal DAC of such playback devices ( TVs, Laptops, DAPs...) and these signal have been amplified by such devices that connects to the output jacks. What you do is to amplify the signal that has been processed thru the internal DAC and the internal amplifiy by the E9. Garbagein, garbage out.

 

2. You will need a DAC that is better than the internal DAC in your TV, CDP, laptop whichever the case may be. Then use the E9 to amplify that processed signal. Again, not all DACs are the same. That's why we have Headfi and Headfonia reviews tom to research.

 

For TVs, I do not think you will need an expensive DAC. I have read from Headfonia, the Mike guy claimed he liked the Fiio D3 DAC better than the E7 when using with the E9. I am going to do just that to put his claim to attest.

 

Best wish.

 

 

 

 



 

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post #7 of 12
1/19/12 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ugm4ia View Post

So if I purchase the D3, how exactly would I connect this to my setup?

My Blu-Ray player clearly, the source in my system has both optical and co-axial out along with HDMI (I currently use the HDMI for when I want to use the TV speakers and co-axial is connected to the Onkyo for HT sound).  

I'm a little unsure what would be the best way to connect the D3 then?

 



 

I am not sure if the improvement is worth an extra 30 bucks or not but I will have the D3 by next Monday. This is what I plan to do, Toslink from TV to D3 input then RCA analog out from D3 to line in of E9 via Y cable ( RCA to 3.5mm ). YMMV.
 

 

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post #8 of 12
1/19/12 at 11:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACDOAN View Post

I am not sure if the improvement is worth an extra 30 bucks or not but I will have the D3 by next Monday. This is what I plan to do, Toslink from TV to D3 input then RCA analog out from D3 to line in of E9 via Y cable ( RCA to 3.5mm ). YMMV.
 

 



Well, I'm in exactly the same predicament. 

 

What I'd like to do with the D3+E9+my blu-ray/Onkyo is to be able to programme my harmony remote to allow me to choose between Onkyo HT sound and D3+E9 sound outputted to my Hd 650's!   I think it may well be possible.

 

I'd be grateful, before ordering, if you'd let me know about your results with this set-up.

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post #9 of 12
1/19/12 at 12:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ugm4ia View Post



Well, I'm in exactly the same predicament. 

 

What I'd like to do with the D3+E9+my blu-ray/Onkyo is to be able to programme my harmony remote to allow me to choose between Onkyo HT sound and D3+E9 sound outputted to my Hd 650's!   I think it may well be possible.

 

I'd be grateful, before ordering, if you'd let me know about your results with this set-up.


What's model of your Onkyo, may I ask ?

 

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post #10 of 12
1/19/12 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 

I have the TXSR505E
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ACDOAN View Post


What's model of your Onkyo, may I ask ?

 



 

 

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post #11 of 12
1/23/12 at 9:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ugm4ia View Post

I have the TXSR505E
 



 

 


I am not familiar with that model. I used to own the TxNr 876 and the headpphone out is pretty decent.

 

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post #12 of 12
1/24/12 at 12:36am

Umg4ia.

Have you tried plugging the HD650s into the headphone jack on the Onkyo, see how well it works.

The best way to hook up the Fiio E9 is to the RCA outputs on the Onkyo TX-SR505.

I believe using the tape out RCAs is the best choice.

You might have to go in to the setup of the Onkyo to enable outputs

The Onkyo should have fairly decent DACs.

The RCA outputs on the T.V. are not going to be that great.

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